by Krystal Paco

Guam - There may soon be closure to the Joseph Taitano case.

As we've been reporting, the decade-old case involves Taitano operating a massive illegal dump on his property in Yigo.

According to Guam Environmental Protection Agency administrator this morning's settlement hearing brings the government closer to mitigating the illegal dump site that sits just above our island's northern aquifer and where we get eighty percent of our drinking water.

"It's a step in the right direction because this case has been lingering for a very long time. The government as whole has invested wow, tens of thousands of dollars into this process thus far and all the while, that lot remains uncapped, potentially going back to our northern aquifer at great risk of being contaminated," he said.

Palacios says the government was seeking a $3.6 million judgment, but was vacated by the court.

Settlement hearings will continue in January.